The Bar

Hello everyone!! I just got in from my first ride on my 1987 (or 89... I'm not sure!) Yamaha Radian 600. It rode very nice! I traded it for an old GMC pickup truck, and I LOVE it. It's very sharp, and has 5,500 miles logged. My first (of many, I'm sure) questions is this: What maintenance should I perform right now? The last guy owned it for about a year, and he didn't even know where to put oil in, which pains me. I'm a Land Rover owner and I love working on stuff- so if there is a list of maintenance that all new owners should perform, I'd love to see it! THANK YOU, everyone!! -NewB

Hello, Just joined as I have bought a Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat. 03 plate, pick her up next week. My previous bike was a SV650 so looking forward to the extra umphh the Thundercat has. Any hints or tips for a first time owner of a Thundercat would be greatly appreciated. Any advice on the set up of the suspension would be especially helpful as the suspension on my previous SV650 is about as adjustable as my 3 years raleigh Bumble Bee!!! I understand you need height and weight so 5'11" about 13 stone ish

Hi to you all i have just joined and want to wish you all a happy new year im lucky enough to of just purchased a brand new r1 in graphite i havent got any pictures yet but will add one soon as poss uptill now ive been a 600 gixer owner i have had 3 srads and i currently still have my alstare k3 model think ill probally sell it now i have the r1 , ive wanted an r1 since i first walked into the local bike shop , to get a set of ht leads for my lc 350 back in 98 so its taken ten years but got there eventuallY , , So Hi to you all,,,,,Si

Just Introducing myself and saying Hello. I Ride R1 2004 and love it hope to meet some of you for some good rideouts. Chris

Hi guys a newbie to R1's and the site here, What a great site! still feeling my way around at the moment. 2 weeks ago I bought an '06 R1 Raven, I rode the gixer 1000, ZX10 and Blade but the R1 had it all by miles class, handling, style, power, looks I could go on... After a long ride back to London from Devon I noticed that my front brake's sounded different whilst manouvering the bike around my yard, a light knocking sound was coming front the front brake calipers under light braking eventually I found that the brake pads themselves were moving (only a few millimetres) within both of the calipers causing them to knock, all the pins etc... are in place and nothing …

hi all, bought an 83 xv 500 a year ago, picked it up in glasgow. rode it back to norwich, found out from a previous mot it came from lowestoft. since buying it it seems that this nice little machine does not exist. haynes say it doesnt in their handbook, any spares website i go on do not list it.. which may explain why the maintenance has been poor. are there any more xv 500 riders out there? please tell me i'm not alone. i need to find out where i can get parts. most pressing is an airfilter. paper type it's got sport filters but hasnt been rejetted so runs a little rough at tickover i also need rocker gaskets and clutch side gasket. theres a small leak when warm not he…

Hi all, Thought I'd pop in and introduce myself. After 7 years of nagging, the wife has finally relented and let me get another bike, Woohoo!! My last bike was a fzr1000 genesis, which I loved to bits so I just bought a '89 FZR600 genesis, (you're not having anything bigger than a 600.... yes dear!!). URL=http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/9/6/f_DSCF0017m_9fe1b3f.jpg&srv=img27] Anyways, as you can see, she was in a bit of a state (bike not wife... tho now you mention it), so, 10 days, lots of stripping cleaning renewing and painting later..... and she's looking pretty good, yes thats the kitchen, yes I'm in trouble, big time!! …

Hi all, I've just bought an S-reg XJ600N as a project and winter hack bike, so this looks like the place to be. Seems to be in fair condition apart from a knackered front tyre and a gummed-up clutch - it hasn't run since April. Otherwise it's just a question of TLC I hope, though a lot waits on the keys catching up with me as they've gone walkabout. I'm up in Liverpool and I can often be found lurking on the BMW Club forum and the BikerMatch social website. Already spotted one familiar name from BikerMatch! This is a return to Yamahas for me after a long absence - back in the 80s I had an XJ650, but that's another story. cheers, Wills

Hi guys and gals . Got the itch every year so this year I scratched it and bought myself a FZS 600. Had the bike for just over a month, done nearly 2,000 miles and have been having a ball . Well until today . Bought a mini torch and attached it to my keys. Stupid mistake that was . It locked the steering and I dropped the bike. Luckily was only walking speed so nothing more than bruised pride and shins. Oh and a broken clutch lever and a scuff on the generator cover.

Hi, i'm Steve, 21 from Grimsby. I go to Sheffield Hallam Uni doing Quantity Surveying. Just bought my first 'big bike' which gets delivered to me next week. Its a 06 plate R6 inblack. Not got too much planned for it, just a few carbon goodies. Recently sold my car which was a mag featured show car corsa but i think i have been shown the light with bikes. I'll get some decent pics once it arrives but i'll post up the ones i have now. Cheers, Steve

Hi Everyone, Just thought I would say hello to you all. I have been riding over a while now and this year bought my first Yamaha. Its a fazer 600 SP2 and to be honest its one heck of a bike. previously I had 2 bandits which were great bikes but not a patch on this.After reading reviews I decided on a change. Not one regret. On Thursday, a few friends and me are off to Germany for 5 days, so cant wait to wind it up on the Auto Bhan. Watch this space for pictures. Hopefully we're going to get to the Nurburgring, but you know how it goes! To be honest, little bit nervous as never ridden abroad before and any advice would be apreciated. Anyway.Hi to you all. …

Just to say "Hi y'all" from me ...new to site... Bought a divi a few weeks back just as a potential winter hack , had to put a new 4 to one exhaust on to make it less rattly all this ... to save the chrome on a moto guzzi ... well enjoyed the old xj600s so much have just paid a deposit on a 2009 xj6N abs......SO YAMS have got to me ! needless to say not planned but once a bird settles on my head it seems to always build a nest! Guzzi now to go! hey ho ... hope you all keep me company as much as the old Guzzistas have in past year ...( prior to that it was a ducati Multistrada ) I plan to stay here longer !

Hi folks, Total newbie and had my first fall and smashed my headlight completely. I've found this on ebay and just wondered if someone is able to confirm for me that I'm buying the correct headlight. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230903340499?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Think it is, but hoping somone can confim it please. Thanks!

Hi guys and gals...(soooo `dj`ish aint it), new proud Yammy FZ6 owner here, one week old already. Right a few questions i hope all you other proud owners out there can help with. Running in the engine? How many miles? Revs? Speed etc? Any/all advice and tips welcome. Is it common for a loud `cluncking` into first and second gears? Is it normal for the engine to be so revie, even though im in top gear it always feels as though there should be one more final gear, or is this also just part of the running in period? Taken it up to 55 the most at the moment. Anyway, look forward to all your tips on the bikes.

Hey there. Im Derek, im 16, from Aberdeen (shire), and Ive just started using my 1984 DT50MX on the road Had a few teething problems with it so far, nothing a few nights alone in the garage couldnt sort. Someone had dumped a ghetto blaster in a quarry not far from me, so I took it, full of water, but it now works! Might strap it to my granny rack when I get some batterys for it lol

I'm new to the forum, thought I'd say hi. I've just bought a beat up old M reg xv250 which is in the process of being turned into a custom bobber/chopper type thing for the sunny days, half done, be ready by winter! Any one on here ride one of these? Chris

Hi All I am hoping that this forum provide some guidance to a novice? I have purchased a XT250G, pretty much all there and MOT'd etc..., just need to fettle it a bit: Head Gasket, weeping when hot! needs a replacement clock mount, last owner fabricated one not that good It has a stainless steel Micron Exhaust, very good condition, but to be honest I would like an original I have been scouring the internet for the last week and have come up blank on the mounting bracket and exhaust, also would be great to find a digital manual. Looking forward to a fews chats on here and the project moves on :-) Regards Simon

HI ALL, IM NEW TO THIS SITE AND NEVER KNEW IT EXISTED TILL A MATE TOLD ME TODAY. ITS A GREAT SITE FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN THANKS DAZ

Hello Everyone I bought my first Bike yesterday, it's a 52 plate Fazer 600 with 23k miles on the clock. I plan to use it for a bit of fun in the summer, and commuting to work occasionally, also I'd like to get my hands dirty with servicing / modification myself. The bike it stock as far as I know but with an aftermarket immobilizer and a squirty oil thing for the chain, but I'm not sure how that works! I am 29 years old and don't have a bike license yet, but it's on the way. My last experience on 2 wheels was a 49cc moped 10 years ago, so I remember my CBT but will have to do it again soon Looking forward to reading lots about this bike! Oh here'…

Hi All, I am a newbie to the forum and have had my YZF R125 Rossi Race Rep since January 2010 and have covered 100 miles only as have a few cars to play with haha. I am currently based in Plymouth but am moving to Gloucester shortly for work. Haven't riden a bike since I was 16 and that was a 50cc Yamaha Scooter Took me ages to find a new Rossi but worth it in the end I am off on a ride with the Mrs today, she has a Yamaha Cygnus X scooter after owning a variety of the Auto machines - just waiting for her 2 year restricted licence test to end and she can get something much bigger. Here is a pic of her when she arrived but got a few more bit…